John 19:31-37

John 19:31-37 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

John's simple narrative of the treatment of the bodies on the crosses on the day of Preparation reveals the participants in the crucifixion of Jesus again fulfilling Old Testament scriptures pertaining to the death of the only begotten Son of God. When John the Baptist spoke of him, he knew he was preparing the way for One who was greater than he was, who was coming to do a mighty work for God the Father. John said, "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." When John saw the Spirit come upon Jesus as a dove, he declared, “Behold the Lamb of God!” (See John Chapter One) Now we see the broken body of this same Jesus Christ who walked on Earth among men and women, setting captives free and bringing peace to troubled hearts, offered up as the ultimate and perfect Passover Lamb for the sins of all people. Yet He experiences death without the soldiers breaking his legs just as the scriptures foretold by decreeing that no bone of the Passover lamb should ever be broken: In one house it [the offering] shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. (Exodus 12:46) They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. (Numbers 9:12) As with the Jewish Passover lambs, Jesus offered himself to God unblemished, in every way perfect, holy, and in right standing with his heavenly Father. Pontius Pilate said he found no fault in him. Jesus fully paid the penalty for sin. Upon Christ's death the dividing partition, that huge wall of separation between God and mankind, tumbled to the ground just as the temple veil was rent into two pieces as we gained access into the Holy of Holies through the precious blood of the Lamb. No longer would men and women have to remain outside of God's holy presence because of his righteous wrath upon sin.

Now, because of the blood of the Lamb of God spilt on the cross, all who called upon the name of Jesus and trusted in his saving grace could enter boldly into God's presence and call him Abba Father. The true Passover Lamb made it possible for mere men to be the temple of God, inhabited by God's Spirit. The Lamb of God took away our sins so that we might be the very essence, the impression, of God's presence on Earth. Many gospel songs have captured the heart of this miraculous life-changing event. We should not merely sing "He Arose" on Easter. "Up from the grave He arose"; and because He arose, we rise also from all sin and darkness; and we have victory over sin and death forever and ever. He "arose the Victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with his saints to reign." This is the truth of the gospel. Yet so often we are downcast and discouraged. "He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!" Christ's death was not a victory for the world of sin and darkness. He arose, and because He lives, we live forever. Yes, we live challenging lives, full of distractions, stony places, trials, temptations, and even pitfalls along our paths. But we are not supposed to be taken aback by such events because Jesus warned his disciples they would face troubles and promised to send the Holy Spirit to help them, saying, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me." Christ's followers sorrowed in his death; yet they had hope, a promise from Christ for a better day. He had gone on to speak of glorious things to come: The Helper, the Spirit of Truth, who would come from the Father. Jesus told them "He will bear witness of Me, and you will bear witness also." (John 15:18-21 & 26-27)

We have that glorious hope, that blessed hope through the risen Christ and the power of the resident Holy Spirit. As believers we have every reason to rejoice and to give thanks. The Word is full of reminders, rich and overflowing with light and love, water and food for our thirsty and hungry souls. The Bible shows us we are the redeemed in Christ. We must choose to walk in our inheritance, according to the abundance He has provided for each of his co-heirs regardless of our earthly situation. God does not force us to enter into the Promised Land: we always have a faith choice. We can look at the giants or see the land of milk and honey. Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they (children of Israel) did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. . . It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. . .Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:1-2, 6-10, & 14-16) CHRIST IS THE LAMB OF GOD: our Lamb, our sacrifice, our shelter, our rest, all we need right now. We pray each of you enter in that rest by faith today.